Mercury Records Collection: Philips PHM 200-077: Spring Is Sprung

PHM 200-077: Spring Is Sprung / Gerry Mulligan

Label Type :	black rainbow Philips
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	PHM-200-077-A1 RI FF
	SIDE-B	PHM200077B M1 IC FF

Comments

with original Philips inner sleeve.

an unusual copy - inscribed matrix on the dead wax area of Side-A, while stamped matrix (Philips' Richmond plant type) on Side-B. Anyway, the matrix information may indicate this is 1st pressing copy.

Inside The Groove

Truely great swingy and progressive quartet session by Gerry Mulligan.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Gerry Mulligan left a sort of fine recordings on Mercury and subsidiaries - from EmArcy's 1955 sessions to 1966 session left on Limelight.

This 1962 session was his comeback to Mercury, after a long absence (he recorded for Verve, Pacific Jazz and other labels in his late 1950s - early 1960s). Since the so-called “British Invation” hadn't come yet, and since Gerry Mulligan himself was still in his artistic peak, we can enjoy his awesome and magical blend of traditional swing jazz with powerful and progressive modern improvisations on this album.. Gerry Mulligan's famous pals, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Crow and Gus Johnson, also plays a truly awesome performances on this session.

Among Gerry Mulligan's EmArcy/Philips/Limelight albums, this would definitely be his second best album (in my opinion) preceded by famous 1955 EmArcy sessions. It must be also noted that the sound quality of this album is supreme - very powerful and aggressive!

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

10 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	22600 (PB5403/PS2269)	Jive At Five (Count Basie & Harry Edison)	6:24
A-2	22596 (PB5399/PS2265)	Four For Three (G. Mulligan)	4:58
A-3	22602 (PB5405/PS2271)	17 Miles Drive (G. Mulligan)	4:57
SIDE-B
B-1	22603 (PB5406/PS2272)	Subterranean Blues (G. Mulligan)	9:41
B-2	22593 (PB5396/PS2262)	Spring Is Sprung (G. Mulligan)	6:42
B-3	22595 (PB5398/PS2264)	Open Country (B. Brookmeyer)	4:30

Personnel

A-1, A-2, A-3, B-3:
Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Gerry Mulligan (bs), Bill Crow (b), Gus Johnson (ds).
Recorded at A&R Studios, New York City on December 11 and 12, 1962.

B-1:
same personnel/date/place as A-1, except Bob Brookmeyer (p).

B-2:
same personnel/date/place as A-1, except Gerry Mulligan (p).

Recording engineer: Phil Ramone.
Musical director: Quincy Jones.